BATAVIA, OHIO- Zach Sucher of Mobile, Ala., carded
an even-par-71 to sit atop the leaderboard in the Boys Division
of the AJGA Kroger Junior Invitational. In the Girls Division,
Mandy Goins of Frankfort, Ky., retains the Girls Division
lead by one stroke over Kelsey Lindenschmidt of West Chester,
Ohio.

Conducted by the American Junior Golf Association, the AJGA
Kroger Junior Invitational features 102 players, 81 boys and
21 girls from 20 states. Five are from the Cincinnati area,
with 28 from the state of Ohio.

Sucher, playing in his second-career AJGA event, entered the
second round one stroke off the lead, held by Jeff Hall of
Franklin, Tenn., and Dan Doyle of Rochester, Mich. Sucher
(70-71-141) credits his steady ball-striking for his advantage
in the Boys Division.

"For the last month, I have been striking the ball well,"
said 16-year-old Sucher, "it has continued into this
tournament and I hope it continues tomorrow."

This will be the first time Sucher will enter the final round
of an AJGA event with the lead. Asked if he will be nervous
on Wednesday night, Sucher replied,

"I am going to an amusement park to take my mind off
golf and relax."

Rounding out the Boys Division top five are Doyle at 69-73-142,
Hall at 69-74-143, Tyler Current of Louisville, Ky., 73-71-144.
In a five-way tie for fifth at 4-over-par 145 are Bradley
Ruch of Louisville, Ky., James Sacheck of Zionsville, Ind.,
Pat Collogan of Ponca City, Okla., Tom Miles of Dublin, Ohio,
and Ryan Brehm of Mt. Pleasant, Mich.

Goins entered Wednesday's second round with a three-stroke
lead (73-75-148) over a five-way tie for fifth. She was the
runner-up in the 2002 AJGA Kroger Junior Invitational and
played in the event in 2001, which she credits to her success
this year.

"It helps to play this course over and over," said
the 18-year-old, who will be attending Wake Forest in the
fall. "I didn't play as well as yesterday, but hopefully
I will get more putts to fall tomorrow. I want to be mentally
prepared for tomorrow's round and play as steady as I have
the last few days."

Lindenschmidt broke away from the five-way tie for second
to claim the position by herself at 76-73-149. In third in
the Girls Division is Jordan Craig of Connellsville, Pa.,
at 76-76-152.

Final-round tee times for this 54-hole stroke-play event will
begin at 7:00 a.m. on Thursday off the No. 1 tee at Elks Run
Golf Club. For more information on the AJGA Kroger Junior
Invitational, contact tournament headquarters at (513) 735-6600.

Mission Statement

The American Junior Golf Association is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to the overall growth and development of young men and women who aspire to earn college golf scholarships through competitive junior golf.